Reborn in Hollywood

"Consider it a sacrifice for art."

Li Rui wiped his face with a wry smile and looked up at the magnificent building complex in front of him.

The Jedi Temple stands solemnly, its pyramid-shaped structure gleaming ivory white under Coruscant's artificial sunlight.

He straightened his clothes and strode towards the entrance.

Surprisingly, the process of entering the temple went exceptionally smoothly. After hearing that he had "important information concerning the fate of the galaxy" to report to Master Yoda, the Jedi guards merely used the Force to sense him briefly before solemnly leading him inside.

In less than half an hour, Li Rui was led to a quiet meditation room. In the center of the room, the two strongest members of the Jedi Order sat cross-legged—Master Yoda, who was short and had long, pointed ears, and Master Mace Windu, who had dark skin and piercing eyes.

"Master Yoda, Master Windu," Li Rui bowed, "I've come to ask for your help. But before that, I must tell you a story that may be beyond your comprehension."

For the next two hours, Li Rui recounted the main plot of the six Star Wars films—from Anakin's birth to Palpatine's conspiracy, from the clone war to the Jedi purge, and even Darth Vader's tragedy and redemption.

He spoke at a steady pace, yet every word he uttered was powerful and resonant.

Throughout the entire process, the two masters listened in silence.

Master Yoda closed his eyes and focused his mind, his perception of the Force spreading out like a net as he discerned the truth or falsehood in Li Rui's words; Master Windu, on the other hand, had sharp eyes, his fingers unconsciously stroking the hilt of his lightsaber.

When Li Rui said, "Chairman Palpatine is the Sith Lord Darth Sidious," Master Windu's pupils suddenly contracted.

"...So, in my world, Star Wars is a film series, and you..."

Li Rui paused for a moment, "They are characters in it. But please believe me, as I stand here right now, feeling the reality of this world—the air I breathe, the floor beneath my feet, and the Force fluctuations emanating from the two masters—all of this tells me that you are living beings."

After the narration was finished, a long silence fell over the meditation room.

After a long while, Master Yoda slowly opened his eyes, his wise and profound gaze fixed on Li Rui: "The truth is unsettling, but the flow of the Force does not lie. What you said is true."

Master Windu took a deep breath: "You mean, the fate of our galaxy, including the fate of all of us, is written in a 'script' of another world?"

"It used to be."

Li Rui said sincerely, "But from the moment I entered this world, the future has changed. Just like what I did in another world—I came, I saw, I overturned."

Master Yoda and Master Windu exchanged a glance.

"Then, child..."

Master Yoda's voice was deep and powerful: "What do you want us to do?"

Li Rui leaned forward and said, word by word, "Arrest Palpatine before he issues Order 66. Prevent the clone war from escalating into a Jedi purge."

Master Windu frowned: "Where's the evidence? We can't take action against the Supreme Speaker of the Republic based solely on the words of someone from another world."

"The evidence is in Palpatine's secret office room!"

Li Rui quickly said, "His Sith robes, red lightsaber, and terminal device for controlling the clone chip are hidden there. If you raid the place now, you'll definitely find it."

Master Yoda fell into deep thought.

His wrinkled fingers tapped lightly on his knees, and the Force rippled around him.

A few minutes later, he looked up: "I trust you, the Force guides me. But I must proceed with caution."

Master Windu clearly still had doubts, but he had absolute faith in Master Yoda's judgment: "If this is the guidance of the Force... I agree to proceed. But we need a plan."

"There's no time to plan," Li Rui shook his head. "Every moment we delay gives Palpatine more time to prepare. We need to catch him off guard while he still thinks he's hiding perfectly."

The two masters exchanged glances again. This time, Master Windu slowly nodded: "You're right. Master Yoda, let's gather all available Jedi Knights within the Temple and immediately surround the Council Building."

Master Yoda, leaning on his cane, stood up, his small frame exuding an aura as imposing as a mountain: "Notify the committee members, and do it quickly. But it must be emphasized that this is a secret operation."

Watching the two masters quickly depart, Li Rui breathed a long sigh of relief.

The "flip the table" tactic, used a second time, still worked.

Three hours later, the door to the meditation room opened again.

Master Yoda and Master Windu walked in side by side, their robes stained with a little dust, but their expressions were solemn with a hint of relief.

"Raphael Lee, my friend," Master Yoda's voice was gentler than usual, "you have earned the gratitude and friendship of the Jedi Council."

Master Windu picked up the conversation, his tone tinged with rare admiration: "Palpatine has been killed. He tried to fight back when we surrounded the Capitol with two hundred Jedi Knights... The battle was fierce, but he couldn't withstand the combined might of Master Yoda and me."

Li Rui's eyes lit up: "He's dead? Completely dead?"

"The physical body has perished," Master Yoda said slowly, "but the soul of the Sith can never be completely destroyed. Someday in the future, he may return."

Li Rui knew, of course, that Palpatine would be resurrected through a clone in the official history, but that was decades later.

At least for now, the Milky Way can catch its breath.

"What about the clone army?" Li Rui pressed. "And what about Kamino—"

"Obi-Wan has gone to Kamino," Master Windu said, "with his apprentices. This time, we will resolve the issue of control over the clone chip."

Li Rui nodded.

Change has already happened, and the future is being reshaped.

"Well then," Master Windu looked at him, "as a reward for this 'warning,' the Jedi Council can grant you one reasonable request. What do you want?"

Li Rui said without hesitation: "I want to receive Jedi training—the full set, from basic theory to lightsaber combat, all the knowledge and skills that Jedi should master, I want to learn."

Master Windu was visibly taken aback: "Are you sure? To become a Jedi, one must possess Force talent. And we sense that within you... there are absolutely no Mirage Worms."

The Mirage is a microscopic organism in the Star Wars universe that connects life forms to the Force. Without it, one cannot sense or use the Force.

"I know."

Li Rui laughed. "I don't aspire to become a true Jedi Knight. I just want to learn the knowledge—the seven forms of lightsabers, the philosophy of the Force, the history of the galaxy, the cultures of alien races… everything that can be recorded in books and holographic recorders."

Master Windu still didn't understand: "What's the point of learning these things if you can't use the Force?"

"In my world, knowledge itself is power." Li Rui didn't elaborate further.

Master Yoda seemed to understand something. He gave Li Rui a deep look and said, "It's always a good thing to be eager to learn. We will make arrangements."

For the next three months, Li Rui moved into the Jedi Temple and began studying almost frantically.

Every day at dawn, the first two hours are physical training—although the Force cannot be used to enhance the body, the Jedi training methods can still improve physical strength.

Next came the theoretical classes: Galactic history, fundamentalist theories, diplomatic strategies, alien languages...

The afternoon is for practical lessons.

In the training hall, Li Rui held a lightsaber for the first time—a low-powered training sword, of course.

He tried to learn the seven forms of lightsaber, but without the aid of the Force, these exquisite moves appeared clumsy and laughable in his hands.

"Watch your step, Li!"

The training mentor, a Tirek Jedi named Serene, patiently guided him.

"A lightsaber is not something to be wielded, but something to be guided. Feel its weight, let it become an extension of your arm—"

Li Rui gave a wry smile.

He couldn't feel the Force; he could only rely on his eyes and muscle memory.

While other apprentices, even blindfolded, could deflect the energy beams fired from the training machine with their lightsabers, Li Rui had to widen his eyes and exert all his strength to block even a third of them.

But he did not get discouraged.

If you can't learn practical skills, just memorize the theory.

Every night, he would study the holographic recorder in his dormitory, forcibly cramming the Jedi Order's tens of thousands of years of accumulated knowledge into his mind.

"The Nature and Application of the Force," "Lightsaber Construction and Maintenance Manual," "An Overview of Major Civilizations in the Galaxy," "An Analysis of the Jedi Code and Commandments"... He was like a dried-up sponge, greedily absorbing everything.

Sometimes, he would go to the Temple Library and spend the whole day in the antiquarian section.

When the old Jedi Master Jocasta Nu, who was in charge of the management, met such a studious outsider for the first time, he specially opened up part of the restricted book area for him.

"These are historical records of the ancient Jedi and Sith wars."

Master Jocasta pointed to a row of glowing crystals on the bookshelf. "Some knowledge... is dangerous. But you don't seem to be tempted by the dark side of the Force, because you can't sense it at all."

The old man smiled. "Perhaps this is also a kind of talent."

Three months later, Li Rui caught a glimpse of a familiar figure in the temple corridor: blond hair, a slightly immature but handsome face, and a hint of unease and stubbornness between his brows.

Anakin Skywalker.

Beside him were Obi-Wan Kenobi and the inseparable androids—R2-D2 and C-3PO.

Li Rui didn't go up to greet them. He turned around to find Master Yoda, wanting to learn about the situation on Planet Kamino and Count Dooku.

"The mission went smoothly."

Master Yoda's words were concise and to the point.

"The clone production line has been shut down. Control of the chips has been transferred to the committee. Jango Fett has been captured alive—he and his clone son."

"Where is Count Dooku?" Li Rui asked curiously.

Master Yoda's face revealed a subtle expression: "He surrendered. Upon learning of Palpatine's death, he surrendered immediately. He is now imprisoned in a solitary confinement cell beneath the Temple, where he is reflecting on his actions."

Li Rui almost burst out laughing.

This ambitious former Jedi Master in the original storyline surrendered far too readily.

The changes are spreading like ripples, and the framework of the original storyline is crumbling.